Book History and Book Art

_{Illuminated Initial from Book of Hours and Prayerbook. Eastern Netherlands: Between 1500 and 1625.}

The more than 37,000 volumes in Rare Books make possible a study of the history of the book from its beginnings in the manuscript period through the twentieth century. Among the highlights of the collection are a 1471 printing of the Roman author Suetonius (Suetonius Vitae XII Caesarum. Venice: Nicolaus Jensen, 1471); a 1625 Dutch prayer book manuscript (Book of Hours and Prayerbook. Eastern Netherlands: Between 1500 and 1625); and an 1896 copy of the Kelmscott Press Chaucer (Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer: Now Newly Imprinted. Printed by me William Morris at the Kelmscott Press: Finished on the 8th day of May, 1896).

  

 Prominent among Rare Books' holdings is a collection of artists' books.  Broadly defined, artists' books are books or book-like objects that are designed, created and produced by artists.  Over 250 artists' books are currently available, ranging in date from the 1960's to the present.  They include examples from such contemporary artists as Deb Rindl and Julie Chen.  

  

 Rare Books' collection of artists' books can be located by searching the Texas Tech University Libraries' Online Catalog.   At the Advanced Search Page, under "Field to Search" select "Subject" from the first drop down menu. After that, type in "artists books" (without the quotation marks) in the box under "Type word or phrase".  Next limit your search by selecting "Southwest Coll./Special Coll." from the drop down menu for "Location".   To search, click on "Go".

Links

The Oriental Collection.

  For additional information, please contact: 

    Rob E. King
  rob.e.king@ttu.edu

 (806) 834-0397